Timeline: (7:1)
- During the reign of Belshazzar
- Who was actually the second ruler
- His father Nabonidus was the king at this time
- Nabonidus was out of the country during most of his time as king
- More info: https://creation.com/archaeology-belshazzar
What are the four great animals and what do they represent? (7:3-8)
- Lion with eagle’s wings – a man’s heart was given to it
- Daniel 2:32 head of gold?
- Kingdom of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar.
- Wings plucked. A man’s heart was given.
- Referring to Nebuchadnezzar’s discipline?
- Bear with ribs in its mouth
- Daniel 2:32: breast and arms of silver?
- Persian empire. Cyrus.
- Had a massive army
- Leopard with four wings of a bird and four heads
- Daniel 2:32: belly and thighs of bronze?
- Greek empire. Alexander the Great.
- He had four generals
- Had a much smaller army that moved fast – hence the Leopard vs Bear?
- Fourth animal with 10 horns –
- Daniel 2:33: legs of iron. Feet part of iron and part of clay?
- Julius Caesar, Roman empire
- a little horn
- This may be the antichrist?
Whose throne was placed in Daniel 7:9-10? Why? (Ezekiel 1:26-27, Revelation 20:11-12)
- Throne of God whose kingdom is everlasting and will never pass away
- Throne description is similar to Ezekiel’s and John’s (revelation) vision – Fiery
- Opened the books for judgment – similar to the description in revelation
What was the source of Daniel’s dream interpretation skill? (7:15-16, Daniel 5:12)
- Daniel was known for interpreting dreams –
- Specially recognized for that during Belshazzar’s reign
- During the same king Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel is troubled because of a dream
- A practical example of: Daniel 1:17, Daniel 2:27
- … God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom …
- Daniel recognized the source of his wisdom: Daniel 2:23
- … O God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom …
- Nebuchadnezzar recognized the source of Daniel’s wisdom – Daniel 2:27
- … God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets …
Conclusion:
- God is the source of all knowledge and wisdom
- God’s dominion is everlasting and will not pass away,
- unlike the earthly kingdom which may look all powerful for a period of time.
Passage Daniel 7:1-16 – World English Bible (WEB)
7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.
2 Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke out on the great sea. 3 Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another.
4 “The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on two feet as a man. A man’s heart was given to it.
5 “Behold, there was another animal, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. They said this to it: ‘Arise! Devour much flesh!’
6 “After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The animal also had four heads; and dominion was given to it.
7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the animals that were before it. It had ten horns.
8 “I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
9 “I watched until thrones were placed,
and one who was ancient of days sat.
His clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool.
His throne was fiery flames,
and its wheels burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came out from before him.
Thousands of thousands ministered to him.
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The judgment was set.
The books were opened.
11 “I watched at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke. I watched even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that which will not be destroyed.
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this.
“So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
Passage Daniel 7:26-27 – World English Bible (WEB)
26 “‘But the judgment will be set, and they will take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. 27 The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’
